this is an interesting choice, and i primarily agree with you. i do think the way avon chooses to handle this choice and the way that the others respond to him about it is very interesting. i just want to stick my own oar in and say that i don't think this portrays him as a dick - just because he doesn't have a 'trial' afterwards to brood over it. because seriously - this is what happens.
AVON How long will it take? PLAXTON Fifty minutes. DAYNA If it's to be done, it'll have to be done in forty-five.FIRST POINT: This is the kind of thing Blake used to say to Avon all the time. The example I can explicitly think of is 'Time Squad'. Obviously Avon has moved away from 'the rest? Have the same chance as I have', but this is explicitly the same situation - she's a brilliant scientist, and he's only shaved off a very small proportion of the time. PLAXTON All right. Then she explicitly accepts that time window, and says that she can do itYou can pressurize your main drive tube so I can work in there? AVON Yes. Come with me. [Hands her goggles, picks up the drive.] PLAXTON Fine. [they exit] DAYNA Forty-four minutes, fifty-five seconds, and counting. [Main drive chamber. Plaxton is working on the drive connections.] DAYNA [V.O., over intercom] Two minutes, ten seconds. PLAXTON Just the main ignition controls now. [Scorpio flight deck] AVON One minute precisely, Doctor. Avon continues to warn her. [Main drive chamber. Plaxton is still working.] PLAXTON Two more connections. Not long now. [Scorpio flight deck] TARRANT They're in range! AVON Time is up, Doctor. And again PLAXTON [V.O., over intercom] Almost done.
We've talked before about how this almost certainly wouldn't have happened to Blake, whom the narrative would probably have saved. But I think Avon does everything right in this scene. And it's interesting that you bring up 'Orbit', which I think is him being much worse (unless you want to argue that by doing a creepy voice he warned Vila away).
I think what's interesting about this scene, actually, is the way the others react, and the way Avon closes down as a result of being told that his actions which have been (as I suggested above) as close to helpful and fair as he could possibly have hoped for, are in fact completely unacceptable in Dayna and Tarrant's eyes.
BUT HAVING SAID THAT - they let him take that guilt and save them all. Then they can all stand around feeling like they had no other choice but to let him make that decision (but stil feeling guilty about having a hand in Plaxton's death), because Avon was too strong and evil?
Meanwhile Avon knows he had a choice, and I think made the right one.
no subject
AVON How long will it take?
PLAXTON Fifty minutes.
DAYNA If it's to be done, it'll have to be done in forty-five.FIRST POINT: This is the kind of thing Blake used to say to Avon all the time. The example I can explicitly think of is 'Time Squad'. Obviously Avon has moved away from 'the rest? Have the same chance as I have', but this is explicitly the same situation - she's a brilliant scientist, and he's only shaved off a very small proportion of the time.
PLAXTON All right. Then she explicitly accepts that time window, and says that she can do itYou can pressurize your main drive tube so I can work in there?
AVON Yes. Come with me. [Hands her goggles, picks up the drive.]
PLAXTON Fine. [they exit]
DAYNA Forty-four minutes, fifty-five seconds, and counting.
[Main drive chamber. Plaxton is working on the drive connections.]
DAYNA [V.O., over intercom] Two minutes, ten seconds.
PLAXTON Just the main ignition controls now.
[Scorpio flight deck]
AVON One minute precisely, Doctor. Avon continues to warn her.
[Main drive chamber. Plaxton is still working.]
PLAXTON Two more connections. Not long now.
[Scorpio flight deck]
TARRANT They're in range!
AVON Time is up, Doctor. And again
PLAXTON [V.O., over intercom] Almost done.
We've talked before about how this almost certainly wouldn't have happened to Blake, whom the narrative would probably have saved. But I think Avon does everything right in this scene. And it's interesting that you bring up 'Orbit', which I think is him being much worse (unless you want to argue that by doing a creepy voice he warned Vila away).
I think what's interesting about this scene, actually, is the way the others react, and the way Avon closes down as a result of being told that his actions which have been (as I suggested above) as close to helpful and fair as he could possibly have hoped for, are in fact completely unacceptable in Dayna and Tarrant's eyes.
BUT HAVING SAID THAT - they let him take that guilt and save them all. Then they can all stand around feeling like they had no other choice but to let him make that decision (but stil feeling guilty about having a hand in Plaxton's death), because Avon was too strong and evil?
Meanwhile Avon knows he had a choice, and I think made the right one.